With the holidays finally behind us – we know we can’t possibly stomach another one of our signature Night Train Express eggnog concoctions - the campaign season is officially underway. And a couple of Queens candidates couldn’t wait to get started, getting their bids for City Council underway this week.

First, Martha Taylor hosted a fundraiser with very special guest Congressman Joseph Crowley to raise some dough for her campaign to replace Councilman James Gennaro, who will be forced from office due to term limits.

Crowley, the head of the Queens County Democratic Party, is a big get for Taylor, who also works for former city comptroller Bill Thompson, which could help her down the line.

She’ll need it. Rory Lancman, who left the Assembly to run for Congress against Grace Meng but lost, is also running in the district.

And on Tuesday night, Paul Vallone announced his candidacy for City Council in the 19th District, a seat currently held by Dan Halloran, who incidentally also ran for Congress against Grace Meng but lost.

Vallone will likely face a Democratic Primary challenger, but if he makes it over that hurdle he will square off against the incumbent, which makes Halloran’s presence at the annual Vallone Christmas Party in Astoria last month all that more confusing.

And don’t forget voters will get to select a new mayor this year, and one of those looking to take over for Bloomberg (provided he doesn’t find a way to get himself a fourth term!) is John Catsimatidis, owner and CEO of Gristedes, among other profitable ventures.

Catsimatidis actually stopped by the Ledger/Star offices Monday night to talk about his campaign. The whole conversation was strictly off the record, but since Pol Position wasn’t even allowed in the room anyway because of our notoriously loose lips, we can’t tell you much more than the fact that he was here. And that he is running for mayor.